PrevenTeen: Translating and testing an evidence-based, AI-powered mobile health care model integration into clinical practice for adolescent weight management and diabetes prevention

PrevenScripts a clinical mobile health intervention designed to help patients develop healthier eating and lifestyle habits through a smartphone app, remote monitoring, personalized goal setting, and clinician support. The PrevenTeen study will adapt the program for teens, test its usability and engagement, and evaluate its effectiveness in improving weight, diet quality, quality of life, and cardiometabolic health among adolescents in pediatric clinics. If successful, PrevenTeen could offer a scalable approach to obesity treatment and type 2 diabetes prevention in real-world healthcare settings.

Principal Investigator

Amanda M Ziegler, PhD, MPH, BSN (Department of Family Medicine, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences)

Researchers

Lucy Mastrandrea, MD, PhD (Co-Investigator; Department of Pediatrics, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences)
Teresa Quattrin, MD (Co-Investigator; Department of Pediatrics, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences)
 Sarah Ventre, MD, MPH (Co-Investigator, Department of Pediatrics, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences)
Natalie Davis, MD (Co-Investigator, Pediatrician and PreventScripts Chief Medical Officer and Co-Founder)

Community Lead

Diamonique Pettway (Director of Community, Events, and Marketing, Health Sciences Charter School)

Funding Source and Dates

American Diabetes Association, Innovative Research for Enhanced Diabetes Prevention and Care in Primary Care Settings - [9/1/2026 - 8/31/2029]

Abstract

Adolescent obesity affects more than 1 in 5 U.S. youth and is a major risk factor for developing type 2 diabetes (T2D) and other cardiometabolic conditions. Yet many weight-management programs are difficult to access, costly, or do not fit adolescents’ developmental needs and growing desire for independence. At the same time, most teens regularly use smartphones and digital technologies, creating new opportunities to provide health support in ways that are convenient, engaging, and scalable.

This study will adapt and test PrevenTeen, a mobile health intervention based on the PreventScripts platform currently used in adult primary care. Through a smartphone app, remote monitoring tools, personalized goal setting, and clinician-connected support, PrevenTeen is designed to help adolescents build healthy eating and lifestyle habits that can reduce obesity and future diabetes risk.

The project has three aims: (1) adapt the intervention for adolescents using input from teens, parents, clinicians, and researchers; (2) pilot test the program to ensure it is easy to use, acceptable, and engaging; and (3) evaluate PrevenTeen in a randomized study of 72 adolescents with obesity receiving either usual care or the intervention in two pediatric clinics. Researchers will examine changes in weight status, diet quality, quality of life, and cardiometabolic risk markers. If successful, PrevenTeen could provide a scalable approach to adolescent obesity treatment and type 2 diabetes prevention in real-world clinical settings.

Project Status

Start-up